Spatial pattern and variations in the prevalence of congenital heart disease in children aged 4-18 years in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the spatial distribution pattern of the prevalence of congenital heart disease (CHD) in children in Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP), a high-altitude region in China. METHODS: Epidemiological data from a survey on the prevalence of CHD in Qinghai Province including 288,066 children (4-18 years) were used in this study. The prevalence and distribution pattern of CHD was determined by sex, CHD subtype, and nationality and altitude. Spatial pattern analysis using Getis-Ord Gi⁎ was used to identify the spatial distribution of CHD. Bayesian spatial binomial regression was performed to examine the relationship between the prevalence of CHD and environmental risk factors in the QTP. RESULTS: The prevalence of CHD showed a significant spatial clustering pattern. The Tibetan autonomous prefecture of Yushu (average altitude > 4000 m) and the Mongolian autonomous county of Henan (average altitude > 3600 m) in Huangnan had the highest prevalence of CHD. Univariate analysis showed that with ascending altitude, the total prevalence of CHD, that in girls and boys with CHD, and that of the subtypes PDA and ASD increasing accordingly. Thus, environmental factors greatly contributed to the prevalence of CHD. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of CHD shows significant spatial clustering pattern in the QTP. The CHD subtype prevalence clustering pattern has statistical regularity which would provide convenient clues of environmental risk factors. Our results may provide support to make strategies of CHD prevention, to reduce the incidence of CHD in high altitude regions of China.

[Characteristics of Ozone Background Concentration in Beijing from 2004 to 2015].

Based on the hourly O3 monitoring data from 2004 to 2015 of Beijing, a comprehensive discussion on the characteristics of O3 concentration at a background station Dingling in Beijing was conducted. The results showed that the annual concentration of O31h was increasing with a growth rate of 4.40 µg·m-3 while the annual concentration of O38h was decreasing with annual average rates of -1.0 µg·m-3 and -1.5 µg·m-3 from May to October in 2004 and 2015. Over the past 3 years, number of O38h severe pollution days increased significantly and the situation of O3 pollution in Beijing became more serious. O3 concentration reached its peak in June in a year and its diurnal peak concentration occurred at about 15:00-18:00 at Dingling station which was 101-1.56 times larger than that in the urban center of Beijing. In different years, the ozone peak concentration at Dingling Station was 1h later than that in the urban center from May to October in diurnal variation and the difference of peak concentration was significantly reduced in recent years, which on the one hand may be related to regional ozone pollution, on the other hand may be related to the expansion of Beijing's urbanization.

Spatial patterns of the congenital heart disease prevalence among 0- to 14-year-old children in Sichuan Basin, P. R China, from 2004 to 2009.

BACKGROUND: Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common type of major birth defects in Sichuan, the most populous province in China. The detailed etiology of CHD is unknown but some environmental factors are suspected as the cause of this disease. However, the geographical variations in CHD prevalence would be highly valuable in providing a clue on the role of the environment in CHD etiology. Here, we investigate the spatial patterns and geographic differences in CHD prevalence among 0- to 14-year-old children, discuss the possible environmental risk factors that might be associated with CHD prevalence in Sichuan Basin from 2004 to 2009. METHODS: The hierarchical Bayesian model was used to estimate CHD prevalence at the township level. Spatial autocorrelation statistics were performed, and a hot-spot analysis with different distance thresholds was used to identify the spatial pattern of CHD prevalence. Distribution and clustering maps were drawn using geographic information system tools. RESULTS: CHD prevalence was significantly clustered in Sichuan Basin in different spatial scale. Typical hot/cold clusters were identified, and possible CHD causes were discussed. The association between selected hypothetical environmental factors of maternal exposure and CHD prevalence was evaluated. CONCLUSIONS: The largest hot-spot clustering phenomena and the CHD prevalence clustering trend among 0- to 14-year-old children in the study area showed a plausibly close similarity with those observed in the Tuojiang River Basin. The high ecological risk of heavy metal(Cd, As, and Pb)sediments in the middle and lower streams of the Tuojiang River watershed and ammonia-nitrogen pollution may have contribution to the high prevalence of CHD in this area.

[Standardization for sharing and utilization of Chinese genetic resources].

National Infrastructure of Chinese Genetic Resources is a part of National Infrastructure of Natural Resources for Science and Technology. To strengthen and standardize the collection, integration, conservation, sharing and utilization of Chinese Genetic Resources, we have been carrying out the research on standardization of trimming, integration and sharing of Chinese Genetic Resources, according the advanced experiences abroad on that and abiding by the related laws and regulations. In the paper, National Infrastructure of Chinese Genetic Resources will be introduced on the standardization of integration, database construction and sharing of Chinese Genetic Resources.